CVE-2025-13342 is a critical security vulnerability identified in the Frontend Admin by DynamiApps plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 3.28.20. The root cause is a missing authorization check (CWE-862) in the ActionOptions::run() save handler, which processes form submissions on the public frontend. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to submit specially crafted form data that modifies arbitrary WordPress options without any capability verification. Key options vulnerable to modification include 'users_can_register', which controls whether new users can register; 'default_role', which sets the default role for new users; and 'admin_email', which is used for administrative notifications. By altering these options, attackers can enable open registration, assign themselves elevated privileges, or redirect administrative emails to attacker-controlled addresses, facilitating further compromise. The vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with the ease of exploitation. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the severity and simplicity of the attack vector make it a critical threat to WordPress sites using this plugin. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure increases the urgency for mitigation. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets WordPress options that govern site security and user management, potentially allowing attackers to gain persistent administrative access or disrupt site operations.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of WordPress-based websites, especially those using the Frontend Admin by DynamiApps plugin. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized user registrations, privilege escalation, and administrative account takeover, enabling attackers to implant backdoors, deface websites, or steal sensitive data. Organizations relying on WordPress for customer-facing portals, e-commerce, or internal communications may experience service disruption, reputational damage, and regulatory non-compliance, particularly under GDPR requirements for data protection. The ability to modify the admin email could also facilitate phishing or social engineering attacks targeting site administrators. Given the widespread use of WordPress across Europe, this vulnerability could impact a broad range of sectors including government, finance, healthcare, and retail. The ease of exploitation without authentication increases the likelihood of automated attacks and mass scanning by threat actors. Without timely remediation, affected organizations risk prolonged exposure to compromise and data breaches.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the Frontend Admin by DynamiApps plugin and verify the version in use. Until an official patch is released, organizations should consider disabling or uninstalling the plugin to eliminate the attack vector. If disabling is not feasible, restricting access to the frontend forms handled by the plugin through web application firewalls (WAFs) or IP whitelisting can reduce exposure. Implementing strict input validation and capability checks at the application level, if possible, can mitigate unauthorized option changes. Monitoring WordPress option changes and administrative email modifications via logging and alerting can provide early detection of exploitation attempts. Organizations should also enforce strong authentication and multi-factor authentication (MFA) on WordPress admin accounts to limit the impact of any unauthorized registrations or privilege escalations. Regular backups of WordPress configurations and databases are essential to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise. Finally, organizations should stay informed about vendor updates and apply patches promptly once available.